Indianpolis-based WellPoint, Inc. recently announced that it will make its new consumer-driven health plan (CDHP) products and services available in all states and to all markets, from the largest national employer to an individual member, beginning Jan. 1, 2007. Previously, these products were offered only to national employers’ members.
The organization’s written release explained that the core products WellPoint and its plans will offer will be the consumer-driven portfolio developed by Lumenos, a pioneer in the field of consumer plans acquired by WellPoint in 2005.
The combination of Lumenos’ industry-leading, consumer-focused experience with WellPoint’s unmatched member population, care management expertise and networks of doctors, hospitals and pharmacies positions the company to create the largest population of informed, engaged consumers of health care in the nation, according to WellPoint Chairman, President and CEO Larry C. Glasscock.
“Our customers who choose these consumer-driven products will have new opportunities to lead healthier lives because of this first-of-its-kind national offering,” said Glasscock. “We know that a significant portion of health care costs are related to personal behaviors, such as smoking, poor nutrition and sedentary lifestyles. With our Lumenos portfolio of products and services, we’re empowering consumers through unique and robust online tools and incentives that encourage and reward them for choosing to live healthier lifestyles.”
Consumers who choose Lumenos will be eligible for extensive preventive care and personal health coaching, as well as smoking cessation and weight management programs. In addition, most consumers will receive financial rewards for completing various wellness programs.
Chip Tooke, founder and CEO of Lumenos, reports that nearly one-fifth of Lumenos consumers feel they are healthier because of their Lumenos CDHP (through actions such as additional exercise and improved diet or nutrition), and more than half say they are more informed about their health. In fact, more than 90 percent of Lumenos consumers renew their CDHP each year.
WellPoint’s CDHPs combine a financial health account with traditional health coverage. These products, including Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Health Incentive Accounts (HIAs), are coupled with powerful online tools that consumers use to learn more about their health care treatment and cost options. They also include robust preventive care benefits and most plan designs incorporate financial incentives for consumers who take steps to improve their health.
All of these features encourage consumers to make healthy decisions that prevent illness and promote healthy behaviors, according to John Watts, president and CEO, WellPoint’s Anthem National Accounts. Anthem National Accounts customers include employers with more than 5,000 employees located throughout the country.
“These products put decision making in the hands of the consumer and at the same time help them improve their health,” said Watts, whose business unit has been successfully offering Lumenos products to its national employers’ members since Jan. 1, 2006. “These products provide an opportunity to lead healthier lives and have more direct control over their health care dollars. For physicians, the products help create more informed patients who know what kind of questions to ask. And for employers, these products help engage employees and make them active partners in helping to control the rising cost of health care.
Pending local regulatory approval, WellPoint will expand these products to its markets beginning Jan. 1, 2007, including individual, small group and large group businesses. A few markets will begin their offerings later in 2007.
Source: WellPoint
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Worsening Weather Igniting $25 Billion Weather Derivatives Market 
Everton FC Buyer Accused of Fraud, Double-Pledging Assets in Lawsuit 
Progressive Set to ‘Maximize’ Growth, Building on Q1 
Reserve Strengthening for Casualty Lines Not Over: Moody’s 
